- Honda will reportedly launch an updated Passport in late 2026.
- The off-road TrailSport trim could benefit from a suspension lift.
- Production output will jump during the Ridgeline production pause.
Honda is readying a refreshed Passport for late 2026, arriving just two years after the current generation went on sale. Insider sources point to mild styling revisions and, more notably, a suspension lift for the rugged TrailSport trim that has clearly struck a nerve with buyers.
That TrailSport made up roughly 80 percent of the 55,231 Passports sold in 2025, proving that Americans still want their SUVs to look ready for a fire road even if most of them will never see anything rougher than a gravel driveway. The figure was a record for the model, yet it only earned the Passport fifth in the midsize segment, so there’s room for improvement. Helping matters is the Ridgeline production halt through 2028, which allows Honda to bump Passport output by 13 percent.
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The flagship trim of the Passport already ships with all-terrain tires, front and rear bash plates, and recovery points. What it doesn’t have is extra air underneath. Despite the off-road-tuned suspension, the TrailSport sits at the same 8.3 inches (211 mm) of ground clearance as every other Passport.
That changes soon. Per Autonews, the factory will add a 1-inch (2.5 cm) lift, and an insider says Honda wants to give the 2027 Passport “more testosterone,” calling it “a little more masculine.”
Honda Passport TrailSport HRC Concept
Last year’s SEMA show car looks to have been a preview of where the nameplate is headed. That Passport TrailSport HRC concept went further with a 2.4-inch lift, a full-size spare tire carrier, a roof rack, additional LEDs, a custom bumper, a Thermal Orange wrap, unique upholstery, and a Garmin navigation unit.
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Aside from the lift, Honda is expected to apply “subtle tweaks” to the front and rear end of the SUV, giving it a more “aggressive stance”, according to people familiar with Honda’s plans. Those changes could help the midsize SUV better compete with serious off-roaders like the ladder-frame Toyota 4Runner TRD.
Don’t look for anything new under the hood, though. The lineup reportedly carries over the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 with 285 hp (213 kW / 289 PS) and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm), an engine dating back to the previous generation. Drive goes to all four wheels through a ten-speed automatic.
A hybrid V6 powertrain promising 30 percent better efficiency and 10 percent stronger acceleration is in development, but that one likely won’t arrive until closer to the end of the decade.
